If you are NOT allowed to dispense OTC meds

[MHDNURSE]

Do you wish you could? I have a form that parents sign that authorizes the following at my discretion: Tylenol, Advil, HC 1% ointment, TUMS, neosporin, and Benadryl. They can check all or be specific about what I can and cannot give to their kid. On the one hand it is nice to be able to give a kid with a headache medicine and send them back to class, but sometimes I feel like it is more trouble than it is worth. Sometimes the kid tells me they were given "something purple before school" and I am then calling to find out if they had a fever, if they got motrin or tylenol, etc. Should I be counting my blessings that I am allowed to dispense meds?

[bsyrn, ASN, RN]

I would like to be able to do hydrocortisone, Neosporin, and cough drops. I think that some kids will ask to take Tylenol or motrin at the first pang of a headache if it is available.

Totally agree with this!

[ohiobobcat]

I have standing orders for Tylenol, ibuprofen, bacitracin, Icy Hot, hydrocortisone, cough drops, calamine lotion, Tums, Benadryl, Epi-pens, lubricating eye drops, aloe vera, burn gel, Carmex (?- so specific!), vaseline, Eucerin, Orajel, albuterol (I have a stock inhaler).

I only have to have parental permission for Tylenol/ibuprofen. I stock it here at school. If I give albuterol or Benadryl, my orders state to call home to let the parents know what is going on and why I gave it. I give Benadryl for a significant rash or hives. It's not for "seasonal allergies".

I don't mind the OTC stuff. I remember my first year here we were running the flu shot clinic so I wasn't in my office for a few hours. A student stopped me in the hall and asked for ibuprofen for a headache. I told her I wasn't able to do that right now, but she was welcome to stop by when I was back in my office after the flu shot clinic is done. I later passed her in the hall again. She was on the phone with a parent asking to go home because of a her headache. I like to think I can keep students in school if I can give a student ibuprofen/Tylenol for a minor headache/ache/pain.

[Amethya]

I can't give any medications to any students, unless it's signed by doctor and parent. I find it a bit dumb, especially if the parent gives me permission, but what else can I do?

BUT I can give medications to the staff's kids, so it's a bit weird here.

[RatherBHiking, BSN, RN]

Used to be able to and at first I was thinking what are we going to do for all these kids when they have a headache or stomach ache when they took our meds away. Now I'm glad. I don't have the constant traffic. If kids are always needing medicine then they need to see a dr for a diagnosis. Also, it's amazing how many kids can now make it through the day without medicine. All of them most of the time.

[WineRN]

We have a standing order for Tylenol (for fever over 101 only) albuterol, Vaseline, and caladryl.

All other OTCs need both parent and med signatures and I don't like it. With how much screen time is built into schools now, I would love to have something better that rest and water for headaches

[MrNurse(x2), ADN]

I can't give any medications to any students, unless it's signed by doctor and parent. I find it a bit dumb, especially if the parent gives me permission, but what else can I do?

BUT I can give medications to the staff's kids, so it's a bit weird here.

Staff kids going home means staff going home, yup, makes perfect sense.

[MrNurse(x2), ADN]

Our county doesn't do protocols for meds, however, the county over does and allowed me to steal their protocols and one of the doctors/parents here (who happens to work @ the health department) signed off on them. They have provisions for tylenol/ motrin, TUMS, saline eye drops, Benadryl, HC 1% ointment and Epi-pens. I appreciate being able to keep students here by medicating them and having them feel as though I have done something. For those in private schools without a medical director, most HD will sign protocols, Epi prescriptions, etc. for you, and check local public systems for protocols, I found nothing but cooperation when I reached out.

[kidzcare]

We have a standing order for Tylenol (for fever over 101 only) albuterol, Vaseline, and caladryl.

interesting. So you medicate a fever and then send home? For my own children, I almost never medicate a fever unless it is bedtime or they are extremely uncomfortable.

[MrNurse(x2), ADN]

interesting. So you medicate a fever and then send home? For my own children, I almost never medicate a fever unless it is bedtime or they are extremely uncomfortable.

This is my personal irritation, too. I was slow to medicate a fever at the hospital, as I believe a fever is a good thing, but doctors and midlevels would push that Tylenol be given. When asked for rationale for my own education, not for arguing's sake, I never really got a good explanation. We may have a pill for everything, it doesn't mean you need to medicate everything.

[kidzcare]

This is my personal irritation, too. I was slow to medicate a fever at the hospital, as I believe a fever is a good thing, but doctors and midlevels would push that Tylenol be given. When asked for rationale for my own education, not for arguing's sake, I never really got a good explanation. We may have a pill for everything, it doesn't mean you need to medicate everything.

I don't find it irritating- everyone can handle their own children and/or patients how they wish. If a fever is the only symptom and my child is sleeping it off on the couch, I let it be. When my kid can't swallow from pain because of strep- I dose them with ibuprofen.

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

i almost never treat a fever in myself or my kid. It has to be awful high for me to consider it or we have to be miserable achy - then it's more for that symptom. The body runs a fever for a reason - let it do its job

[Running Cat Lady]

If I could hand out Tums for these kids who come to me with indigestion after eating a few bags of Flaming Hot Cheetos/Takkis and a Mt Dew...that would be awesome